Vehicle undercarriage



April'zl, 1942. mmm "2,280,302,

VEHICLE UNDER'CARRIAGE VFiled March 16, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS.

rApril 21, 1942. F, MEID 2,280,302

l VEHICLE UNDERCARRIAGE n I n FilefdMarch 16I 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented AApr. 2l, 1942 ecm-reo srrjrr11sNN `M1*euriip o1-Fries I l I F. Ng280302-gt l I I..

I ,vEHICLE UNDERoARm-AGE `ifrmieiick M. Reid, netriantlich., assignor" w Frueliauf lTrailer Company, vDetroit; `Mich., a

l corporationofMichigane ApplicationMarch 16, 1940, Serial No. $324,365I i 2 claims. 7rc1; 280%124) The `present-invention relates to improvements `in multiple Wheel Lroad' vehicles land particularly -to improvements inspring-suspensions fortandem axles in such vehicles.`

One of the primaryobjects of thelpresent inyvention is to provide-improvedspring suspension constructions which permit greater Avertical move- Yment of the axle than in prior constructions.

Another objectl of theinvention is l to provide Aimproved springsuspension constructions having :l0

a minimum number of wearing Aparts in which p shackles are eliminated, thereby effecting economies as in old constructions where such shackles were used they were! subjected to violent -mechanical action that resulted `in their wear and r1.5

destructionV in `a comparatively `short time.

Another object of the invention is `to `provide an improved spring suspension construction hav- `ing a roller disposed inf an elongated Veye formed at one end `of l one of `the `springs `in which ythe eye limits downward movement of. the axle and in which a bumper on the frame serves to limit upward movement of the axle. i

`A more specific object of the present invention `gated eye is formedonone end of the spring having "one `endof the eye anchored tothe spring Other objects of parentfrom the following speciiicatiomthe draw- `ings relating 'thereto and fromthe claims hereinafter set forth. l

In the drawings, in which likenumerals Vare used to Idesignatelike parts inthe several views throughout:

" Figure 1`` is a fragmentary side elevational view of a multiple `wheelroad vehicle having a spring suspension construction, according to the present invention, associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional and elevational view taken `substantially Valong the line scale, illustrating 4the `elements in one position;

and, A

Fig. 6 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 5, illustrating the `elements in `another position.` 1Referring to the drawings, an automotivetrac- Visfto provide an improved springsuspension construction of the type mentioned `in which an -elonthe invention will become ap- 1' .tor fis" partially` indicatedat Ill with. atrailer frame I2 connectedth'ereto in the usual way through alfifth wheel .means I4. The trailer is .adapted to be Vsupported at its forward end Vthroughtheusual retractable :ground supporting means. (not shown) whenit is disconnected `from the tractor.

.The tractor issupported at its rear end by .ground wheelsil B and'larrangedin tandem and supported on tandem axles 2U and 22, respectively. The axles 20 and 22 `are connected to leaf .springs 24 and-26, respectively, which in turnare `mounted `on the trailer frame l2 by spring sus- .pensionmeans to be `described in detail hereinafter.` I v I. Such spring suspension means include a downwardly directed hanger 28 fixed -to the longitudip unally` extending supporting members of the frame |25 One of such hangersfZ is disposed `adjacent `the rear end ofeach of thesprings -24 and 26 and :the corresponding hangerson the oppositey sides -of the frame have transversely extending bracing members 30 secured thereto.

The hangers 28 are' formed with spaced apart depending'legs ``32 formed with aligned openings A3l'rand bosses 36 adjacent the lower ends thereof. The legs 32 form a generally U -shaped construction with the base or bite 38 slightly roundi ed longitudinally of fthe vehicle to form a spring `bearing-surface.v *The rear end of the leaf spring `24 "or 26 is adaptedto bereceived between the legs of its corresponding hanger 28 so that'l the top surface of *the uppermost leaf of rthe vspring bears against the curved bearing surface 38. The bearingaction is similar to that disclosed in the -co-pending application of Frederick M. Reid, Se-

rial No. 247,607,1led December 24, 1938,` now Patent No. 2,191,941.-

The forward end of spring 24 is connected to which extends transversely of the frame I2 and is 'connected tothe bracket 44 on the opposite side of the frame.,`

The member '40 is formed with spaced apart legs 46 and a cylindrical roller member 48 is mounted on a transversely extending pin 50 fixed leaf 52 of the spring is bent; and reversed upon itself as indicated at 54, terminating ina substantially closed loop 56, and thereby forming an elongated eye which provides a guideway 58. The reversed portion 54 is secured to the spring assembly by means of one of the spring clips 68 which embraces the leaves of the spring and has a pin 62 which extends through the eye of the loop 56 to fixedly secure that end of the reversely bent portion to the spring assembly.

The distance between the legs 46 is substantially equal to the width of the spring 24 so that the spring may be received between such legs with the roller 48 slidably disposed within the guideway 58. It will thus be seen that a positive connection is provided between the forward end of the spring 24 and the member 40, yet upon deection of the spring, the roller 48 moves within the guideway 58 formed by the elongated eye. The downward movement of the spring 24 is limited by the rear end of the eye, when the roller 48 abuts thereagainst.

The opposite or upper end of the bellcrank member 40 has a pivot pin 66 fixedly connected thereto, which has pivotally connected thereto the forward end of a rigid connecting rod member 68. Such rod member 68 is received between the upper ends of legs 46 and is provided with an opening through which the pivot pin 66 extends.

The forward end of spring 26 is connected to the frame I2 by means of a bellorank member 'I8 which is similar in construction to the bellcrank member 48 above described. The detailed elements of member 18 are given reference numerals corresponding to those used above in connection with the member 48 except that the pivot shaft for the member I8 is indicated at |2 for the purpose of clarity. The bracket 44 with the pivot shaft 'I2 is located forwardly of the end of spring 26 and rearwardly of the rear end of spring 24, as shown best in Fig. 3.

The forward end of spring 26 is reversely bent to form a guideway 58 in the same manner as spring 24 and is connected to a roller 48 connected to the lower end of bellcrank member I8 by means of the pivot pin 66.

A bumper member I4 is fixed to the under side of the frame of the trailer I2 above the spring 26 and serves to limit the upward movement of such spring. The hub of member 48 serves as a bumper to limit upward movement of spring 24. The downward movement of spring 26 is limited by the forward end of the elongated spring eye at the forward end of the spring.

The axles 28 and 22 are disposed under their respective springs 24 and,26 at substantially the longitudinal centers thereof and may be connected to their respective ground wheels |6 and I8 in the usual way. The axles 28 and 22 are connected to their respective springs by similar assemblies which include a top member 16 which has the top surface thereof transversely rounded with the bottom surface thereof bearing against the top of the leaf spring. The top surface of member 16 is formed with semi-circular upwardly disposed channels 'I8 at the front and rear sides thereof for the reception of strap wardly directed channel which receives the axle therein. Such member 82 is preferably provided with outwardly disposed flanges 84 at the sides thereof so that the legs of the U-bolts bear against the inner and outer faces of member 82 and against the flanges 84 so that the member 82 is xed in the assembly.

, An axle seat 86, which is formed with an upwardly disposed channel 88, is positioned under its corresponding axle 28 or 22, so that the lower edge of the axle is received within the channel 92.

The legs of the U-bolts 88 extend downwardly along the sides of the spring, the member 82, bears against the front and rear sides of the axle, and extends through openings provided in the axle seat 86. Nuts 98 are threadably received over the lower threaded ends of the U-bolts 88 and bear against washers 92, which, in turn, bear against the under surface of the member 86. By drawing the nuts 98 upwardly, it will be evident that the U-bolts |82 are firmly positioned and draw the top member 16, the member 82, and the axle seat 86 together so that a rigid connection is provided between the axles 28 and 22 and their respective springs 24 and 26.

A radius rod 94 is disposed under each spring 24 and 26 and extends longitudinally thereof toward the hanger 28. Each radius rod 94 is adapted to be pivotally connected to the hanger 28 on each side of the vehicle. The manner in which each rod 94 is pivotally connected to its hanger 28 is best shown in Fig. 4, in which the rear end of the rod 94 is received between the lower ends of legs 32.

A pivot pin 96 is received through the aligned openings 34 and is embraced by a bearing sleeve 98. The sleeve 98 is received within a pivot opening I8| in the adjacent end of the radius rod 94, so that the radius rod is pivotally mounted with respect to the hanger 28.

Rjubber bushings |82 are disposed within openings 34 between the inner surfaces thereof and the outer surfaces of the sleeve 98, so that a resilient pivotal mounting is provided with the radius rod. Dish-shaped end members |84 are disposed over the ends of bolts 96, and are so shaped that they bear against the ends of the rubber bushings |82, so that when a nut |86 on the threaded end of bolt 96 is drawn up on the bolt, the bushings |82 and sleeve 98 are securely held in position so that the radius rod is securely positioned for pivotal mounting with respect to the hanger.

In orderl to pivotally mount the forward end of each of the radius rods 94, spaced flanges I88 are formed integral with the member 82 and project toward the hanger 28. Such flanges are provided with openings therethrough similar to the openings 34, and receive therebetween the forward end of member 94.

A pivot pin II8, which is similar to the pivot pin 96, is received through such openings and through a corresponding opening in the adjacent end of rod 94. Sleeves, bushings, and end members, corresponding to the sleeve 98, bushings |82, and end members |84, above described, are provided to pivotally mount the rod 94 with resnect to the member 82.

While the above description has been directed to just one side of the vehicle, it will be appreciated that the other side of the vehicle is provided with a similar under-construction.

In the action of the structure above described, when the vehicle passes over a rough surface it f the axles are displaced relative to each other.

It will also be appreciated that` by the con struction of the present invention the fourspring, tandem under-construction disclosed herein provides a minimum number of wearing parts while providing the maximum in load cushioning. The axles are positively aligned, and are in proper relation to the frame at all times. The connection between the bellcrank members 40 and with their respective springs through the elongated guideways formed by the elongated eyes, permits greater vertical movement of the axles than in prior constructions.

, Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit and substance of the invention, the scope of which is commensurat with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A vehicle comprising a frame, a pair of axles arranged in tandem beneath said frame, a spring for each axle at each side of said frame, means including a hanger for slidably connecting one end of each of said springs to the frame, a radius rod below each of said springs pivotally connected at one end with one of said hangers, means pivotally connecting the opposite end of said radius rods with the adjacent axle, means connecting the other end of each of said springs to the frame, said last named means including a bellcrank member fulcrumed on said frame adjacent each of said other ends, a roller secured to one end of each of said bellcrank members, means forming an elongated eye fixed to each of said springs adjacent each of said other ends and slidably receiving therein its corresponding roller, and rigid means connecting the other ends of said bellcrank members at the same side of the frame with each other.

2. A vehicle comprising a frame, a pair of axles arranged in tandem beneath said frame, a spring for each axle at each side of said frame, means including a hanger for slidably connecting one end of each of said springs to said frame, a radius rod below each of said springs pivotally connected at one end with one of said hangers, a spacer member between each of said springs and the adjacent axle, means pivotally connecting the opposite end of said radius rods to said spacer members, means connecting the other end of each of said springs to said frame, said last named means including a bellcrank member fulcrumed on said frame adjacent each of said other ends, a roller secured to one end of each of said bellcrank members, means forming an elongated eyefxed to each of said springs adjacent each of said other ends and slidably receiving therein its corresponding roller, and a rigid link pivotally connected to the other ends of the bellcrank members on the same side of the frame, the pivotal connections of the link with the bellcrank members lying in a plane above the fulcrums of said bellcrank members.

. FREDERICK M. REID. 

